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Fish, Kathleen A.

Abstract

Acute, severe, diffuse neuromuscular disease is characterized by distinct
neurologic signs and the primary differential diagnoses include Coonhound
paralysis/acute polyradiculoneuritis, organophosphate toxicity, fulminant myasthenia
gravis, botulism, tick paralysis, and polymyositis. In the case presented in this paper,
history and diagnostics were used to identify acute polyradiculoneuritis as the most likely
cause of clinical signs. Coonhound paralysis is an acute polyradiculoneuritis that is
believed to be caused by an immune-mediated reaction to an antigen present in the saliva
of a raccoon. Acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis is an identical syndrome except that
there is no history of exposure to a raccoon. In the latter case, it is presumed that another
foreign antigen is responsible for the immune response. In either case, the foreign
antigen resembles the individual's own gangliosides such that antibodies formed against
the foreign antigen attack both that antigen and the patient's neural tissue. The result is
an acute inflammation of the ventral nerve roots and subsequent demyelination with or
without axonal degeneration. This results in the clinical signs of diffuse neuromuscular
disease. Treatment is supportive, including adequate cushioning, frequent turning, and
feeding in an upright position. The majority of dogs will recover in weeks to several
months.